Thad had to admit, living with the Scarlet Scarab wasn't as difficult as he had predicted it would be. Sure, they would have their disagreements now and then, but with the Scarab's aggressiveness and protection Thad started to depend on him. Food, for example, was an obvious necessary aspect for both ends of the companionship. With Scarlet's strength and Thad's tactfulness, they would always have all three (sometimes four) meals of the day. Additionally, Scarlet was surprisingly friendly and somewhat awkward whenever he was around Thad. The speedster, oddly enough, hadn't even noticed the impression he had on Scarlet. If anything, he was used to the peculiar tactics the red one often had. They had grown a somewhat kind partnership.
After a week and a half of living with each other, Thad believed that it was time to get even closer to the alternate dimension traveler. Other than the mere fact that he wanted the Scarlet Scarab to trust him, he was actually quite personally curious as to who the Scarlet Scarab really was and why the heck he was here in the first place.
So Thad waited for the perfect opportunity. Which, quite amusingly, was during lunch after the two had robbed from a poor man's shop. Not that he was poor budget-wise, but it was quite a sad sight to see him try to chase after a flying supervillain and an ex-villain speedster. The two had been eating at the usual place, which was the roof of the shack where the two had been living in. They often never spoke when they ate. Usually, they both would sit in silence and just gaze at the city.
Thad saw this as a perfect opportunity to get to know the Scarlet Scarab.
"Hey," Thad had started. He was trying to be as nonchalant as possible but his hands were trembling. Dang him and his body modifications. Where Bart was fun and an extrovert, Thad lacked that area greatly- being quite introverted and boorish. The Scarlet Scarab had turned his head to Thad anyway, tilting it in curiosity. His mouth was full with the subway sandwich that they had stolen but he still tried to reply with an "Hm?"
"I was just curious," Thad started off again, "I've come to the conclusion that you are from a different dimension, but what leads you here? Why come here?"
Scarlet Scarab looked at Thad in shock before looking down and then to the side unsteadily. It took a few seconds, but then he replied, "You really want to know?"
Thad looked at him surprised, he had never seen the teen so inaudible before. Then Thad softly said, "Yes, I would like to know."
Scarlet Scarab tensed a bit before explaining, "My leader, my mentor, Owlman… he- he'd gone missing. My… team believed he was in this world on a mission. However, when we had approached him- it turns out he's learned to… like this world. Like he really wants to stay here for some odd reason. A normal person wouldn't mind this, but we…" he swallowed loudly and gripped his stomach, "we only have each other. We are supposed to hate the world. Be violent and not care what anyone says. Be the bigger men in all situations. We grew up with the world hating us- so we learned to hate them."
Thad couldn't believe anything that he heard. This hatred that the Scarlet Scarab spoke of- this loneliness was exactly everything Thad had felt ever since the day he was made.
"So that's why I'm here. I have to figure out what's oh so special about this place that makes people like Owlman want to stay. I haven't quite figured it out yet. Well, I guess you could say I can see why people would like to be here if others are anything like you." Scarlet Scarab smirked at the speedster.
Thad turned his head uncomfortably. He responded, "I… I haven't been completely honest with you, either Scarlet Scarab."
Scarlet Scarab raised an eyebrow and said, "Please, call me Diego. And what do you mean you haven't been honest?"
Thad looked at Diego head on, face to face, "Alright… Diego, I'm actually an ex-villain. I grew up in hatred and to just be everything that my… other self isn't. I'm a clone. And I'm not supposed to have feelings. I'm only supposed to be made to hate. I've never felt those other things until recently so I ran. I gave up those bad choices and became… well, a petty thief I guess. I can't possibly be anything else. It's impossible to be a hero now, and there's no probable chance of me becoming a normal citizen. So I guess this life I have now is the best I'm going to get."
Diego's eyes dilated. And, for just a moment, he felt something in him spark that he'd never felt before.
"Well, I'll admit that I like the way things are."
Thad looked at the older teen with surprise. He didn't think the Scarlet Scarab- the same man who destroyed half a building this morning. The same person who had threatened Thad yesterday with a cannon. The same man who wanted nothing but violence on everything- this fierce, brutal, teenager liked being with him? Thad had thought his presence was a burden to the stronger one. He always thought that he was just a side annoyance to the red (Ex?) villain.
But once again, that wasn't so.
"So, what next?"
Thad looked at his new… friend? He didn't know what to do. For once in his life he couldn't think- he couldn't analyze- he couldn't do anything. And it terrified him.
"You okay?"
Thad flinched out of his shock. He didn't know what to do. He had so many emotions. For once in his life he felt happy. He had never had a chance to feel like this before.
"Yes, yes I am," a weary smile on his face shown as a tear trickled down his cheek, "I've just- never felt this way before."
His voice was trembling. What should he do now? What should Scar- Diego do now? "I-I…"
He never got to finish his sentence as the older teen placed his hand gently on Thad's shoulder, "I'll leave you alone."
